Can common ovarian cysts cause abdominal pain?

Ovarian cysts are very common gynecological diseases. There are many causes of ovarian cysts. If the ovarian cysts are relatively small, most of them do not require special treatment. They will generally disappear naturally, and can also be regulated by taking Chinese medicine. However, if the ovarian cysts are relatively large, they usually need to be treated surgically. However, it is best to follow the doctor's arrangements for specific treatments.

Ovarian cysts are divided into physiological and pathological types. What are the symptoms of ovarian cysts? Physiological ovarian cysts are formed by the aggregation of follicles during a woman's ovulation period and often disappear automatically after a few months. Pathological ovarian cysts do not have obvious symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms include abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, abnormal leucorrhea, abdominal lumps, etc., which are easily ignored or misdiagnosed.

1. Discomfort in the lower abdomen

This is the initial symptom before the patient feels a lower abdominal mass. Due to the weight of the tumor itself and the influence of intestinal peristalsis and changes in body position, the cyst moves in the pelvic cavity, involving its pedicle and pelvic infundibulum ligament, causing the patient to have a feeling of fullness and falling in the lower abdomen or iliac fossa.

2. Irregular menstruation

Most ovarian cysts do not have obvious early symptoms. Clinically, they are mostly manifested as lower abdominal pain and discomfort, increased vaginal discharge, yellow color, and odor. In addition, patients may experience menstrual irregularities, such as irregular menstrual cycles and increased menstrual volume.

3. Abdominal mass

It is the most common phenomenon in patients with ovarian cysts. The patient realizes that his clothes or belt seem tight and small, and then notices that his abdomen is enlarged, or he feels it occasionally in the morning, so he presses his abdomen and finds a tumor in his abdomen, coupled with abdominal distension and discomfort. The patient has a solid and painless mass in the lower abdomen. If there are no complications or malignant changes, its biggest feature is its mobility. It can often move from the pelvic cavity to the abdominal cavity, and sometimes sexual intercourse may cause pain. When nausea or inflammation occurs, the movement of the tumor is restricted.

4. Compression symptoms

As the disease progresses, ovarian cysts can cause compression symptoms. A huge ovarian cyst can cause dyspnea and palpitations due to compression of the diaphragm. Ovarian cysts combined with a large amount of ascites can also cause these symptoms. However, the dyspnea of ​​some patients with ovarian tumors is caused by unilateral or bilateral pleural effusion, which is often combined with ascites. A huge benign ovarian cyst fills the entire abdominal cavity, increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, affecting the venous return of the lower limbs, and can lead to edema of the abdominal wall and bilateral lower limbs; while a malignant ovarian cyst fixed in the pelvic cavity compresses the iliac vein, often causing edema of one side of the lower limb. The pelvic and abdominal organs are compressed, causing dysuria, urinary retention, urgency or difficulty in defecation.

5. Vaginal bleeding

Malignant ovarian cysts can cause vaginal bleeding. Functioning tumors may cause irregular vaginal bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding. When cysts affect hormone secretion, women may experience irregular vaginal bleeding and increased body hair. In severe cases, symptoms of continuous bleeding may occur.

6. Severe abdominal pain

If the tumor has no complications, there is very little pain. Therefore, if patients with ovarian cysts feel abdominal pain, especially if it occurs suddenly, it is mostly due to torsion of the cyst pedicle, or occasionally due to cyst rupture, bleeding or infection. In addition, malignant cysts often cause abdominal pain and leg pain, and the pain often causes patients to seek emergency treatment.

If the cyst twists, the patient may experience severe abdominal pain, bloating, difficulty breathing, decreased appetite, nausea and fever. If the tumor grows rapidly in a short period of time, and the patient has symptoms such as loss of appetite and weight loss, and the tumor is found to be large and uneven in hardness and softness, be careful that it may be a benign tumor that has worsened. Surgery should be performed as soon as possible, followed by drug treatment.